Serve the World

I would like to share with you this quote, written by Marianne Williamson, in her book, Return to Love, though also popularly (but wrongly) referenced to Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech. Anyway, whoever said it, it’s still beautiful. Take some time to ponder the meaning of it. Better yet, do what I did: I printed it out and put it on my wall, to remind me everytime I felt hopeless.

Our biggest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our biggest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a Child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others.